Terminal block and connector for power cables and load leads



March 19, 1957 c. w. STAHL 2,786,190

TERMINAL BLOCK AND CONNECTOR FOR POWER CABLES AND LOAD LEADS Filed June 1, 1955 F .4 1 a 1r q %25 ll 1A2 w133gg655wg7 If'lFEfiZET Ufieafer WT 670/2! I M W United States Patent TERMINAL BLOCK AND CONNECTOR FOR POWER CABLES AND LOAD LEADS Chester W. Stahl, Columbus, Uhio Application June 1, 1953, Serial No. 358,842 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-198) The present invention relates to a terminal block and connector and particularly to a terminal block and connector for securely conductively interconnecting electrical conductors such as power cables and load leads.

Terminal blocks and electrical connectors are a device well known to the art for joining electrical conductors of the same or different sizes and to electrically couple the same together in a convenient manner. Terminal blocks heretofore known, however, have had several undesirable features and often were of poor durability, inconvenient to use, expensive, and complex to manufacture. In addition, many heretofore known terminal blocks and connectors were special use devices limited in their capacity to connect varying types of terminal ends of electrical conductors. Still further, heretofore known electrical conductors embodied permanent connection devices not allowing replacement or variations in the conductors to be connected.

By the present invention, the above problems are obviated.

It is an important feature of the present invention to provide a highly versatile, convenient, easy to use and easy to manufacture terminal block and connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal block which conveniently connects power cables and load leads.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a terminal block with a plurality of connectors carrying replaceable and releasable clamping means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a terminal block wherein the connectors are secured in recesses in the terminal block and the construction is such that short circuiting between the terminal connectors is prevented.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a U-shaped collar member with apertures in the wings of the U-shaped collar and clamping means carried in the apertures.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a terminal block with connectors having the features immediately above described.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block and connector with readily replaceable parts.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a terminal block and connector for electrical power installation.

Still other and further objects of the present invention and features thereof will become readily apparent from the following detailed description and claims and from the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrates several of the various types of conductors which may be connected through the terminal block therein illustrated in accordance with the principle of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure l and taken along the line lI-II thereof;

Figure 3 illustrates a preferred form of connector in accordance with the principles of the present invention and illustrates the connector employed in the embodiment of the terminal block illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view similar to Figure l but illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and is taken along the line VV thereof; and

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the connector employed in the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, particularly in Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a terminal block, indicated generally at 10, which is a form of terminal block embodying the principles of the present invention and incorporates the features described above and is particularly useful in such power installations as on an electric range or cook stove to connect the power inlet cables 11, 12, 13 to the load leads or stove leads 14, 15, 16 respectively. The terminal block 10 is preferably constructed from an insulating material such as hard rubber or Bakelite or any thermosetting plastic or resinous material or the like, and carries, for purposes of illustration, three connector elements 20 such as those shown in Figure 3.

Each of the connectors 20 is carried in a recess or lateral groove 21, 22 and 23 running preferably across the entire width of the terminal block and separated by upstanding insulating guide arms 24 and 25.

The body member 19 of terminal block is also provided with a pair of notches or recesses 26 and 27 thereby being provided with convenient securing means through which the terminal block 10 may be secured to a wall or floor or partition or the like. Shoulders 28, 29 in the recesses 26 and 27 provide bearing surfaces for the securing means which holds the terminal block 10 to any selected surface to which it may be secured.

A bottom securing groove or recess 30 is provided in the underside of the body member 19 of the terminal block. Holes 31, 32 and 33 are provided in the body member 19 and extend from the recesses 21, 22 and 23 through the thickness of the body member to the recess or groove 30. Downwardly extending separator portions 34 and 35 of the body member 19 extend into the channel or groove 30 substantially across the entire width thereof and separate the inner portion of the same into three spaces or further recesses 36, 37 and 33 into which the holes 31, 32 and 33 open.

Screws 39, 40 and 41, or other convenient securing means, extend through the holes to secure the connectors 20 in the recesses 21, 22 and 23 therefor; the several screws or other securing means are insulated and separated by the extension separator members 34 and 35. Insulating separations for the screws are most desirable but may be omitted if the screws themselves are made of an insulating material, but since fastening or securing means are usually best made of metal or other conductive material, insulation is a proper safeguard against short circuiting therebetween.

The connectors 20, viewed in Figures 2 and 3, are preferably made of a good conductor material such as copper or copper plated steel or brass or the like. The channeled collar members or conductor receiving members 51 of the connectors 20 are preferably formed from flat sheet stock of material such as that described above and are bent into a U-shaped section with wings 54, 55, of substantially the same height and a substantially rounded bight section 56. The bight section 56 may, of course, be slightly flattened at the center thereof if so desired but I have found that better clamping obtains with a substantially rounded bight section. The collar about the same as the width of the body member 19 of the terminal block but may be slightly greater or less than that dimension as found most desirable or expedient depending upon the intended use of-the connectonZll since the connector 20 may be used as an individual connector by itself without being incorporated into the terminal block much-in the same manner as a cable clamp but incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Nut receivingslots '57, 58, '59 and 60 are provided in the Wings 54 and 55 of the U-shaped channel members 20. These slots 57, 58, 59 and 60 are formed in pairs 57, 58, -59-and -6$t-and are-generally rectangular and diametrically opposed tosupport nuts in a plane preferably perpendicular to the. planes of the'wings 54 and 55 of-t-he collarfid to receive a standard square nut 61 and 62 in each pair of slots. A nut placed through theop- -posed slots or-apertures is secured against all movement exceptin a direction through the slots by simply being positioned therein; the several sides of the apertures or slots prevent any other movement of the nut.

In this embodiment of the present invention, two nuts '61 and 62 are provided as part of the'conductor clampmg means to facilitate individual clamping of individual ,-con-ductors and to allow releasable-and replaceable securing of the connector into the terminal blocks.

Each of the connectors 20 has a threaded hole 63 approximately centrally positioned through the bight56 of thecollar 51 to provide forready engagementwith the screws 39,40 and 41 to secure the connectors 20 into their properland appropriate recesses or channels 21, 22

and 23 in-the body portion 19'ofthe terminal block.

Each of the nuts Gland 62 receives a clamping screw 64 and 65 respectively in threadable engagement therewith :sozthatrthe screws may .=berun up and down selectivelyinto and out of clamping engagement with the :several conductors individually or together as the contnectorz20 may be employed. terminal block illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it may be In the embodiment of the readily observed that lugless cables or wires may be received in the bight '56 of. the collar.51.and.clamped therein by screwing the screws 64 and.65 downward.

If-;the conductor or cable is provided with a lug such t as a solder lug as shown terminating the power'cable 12 then the screw may be received through the lug hole and clamped down onto vthe topedges of thevwings or upstandingarms 54-and 55 of thecollar 51 and clamping action will beVha-d thereagainst by threading the: screw down through its corresponding nut 62. If a lug is employed, swinging or twisting of the lug is prevented and short circuiting is prevented by having the upstanding insulator separator arms 24 and 25 extend slightlyabove the top edges of the wings 54 ;and 55 of the collar :51.

- Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5: and 6, a terminal block .110. is provided with a body member 119 having channels or grooves 121, '122 .and 123 in which connectors are seatedand secured.

The connector receivingrecesses 121,122 and 123 are separated by upstanding-separator extensions 124 and v125 which are considerably shorter than the upstanding separators 24 and 25 of the terminal bloclcillustrated in Stepped mounting grooves or recesses 126 and 127 are provided in the lateral-edges of the body member 119 or" the terminal block new perform the same'function as the sim lar recesses 26 and 27 of the terminal block of the Figures 1 and 2 and are provided with similar shoulders 128 and 129. Also a groove 130 is provided in :the bottom of the body member 119 and further recesses 136, 137, and 138 which are separated by downwardly into the-body 119. of the terminal block .110.from the groove 130. Holes 131, 132 and 133 communicate the recesses 121, 122 and 123 with the recesses 136, 137 and 138 respectively and provide for securing the connectors 12 19 in the recesses 121, 122 and 123 respectively.

The connectors 120 comprise a conductor receiving channel member or collar 151 formed substantially U- shaped with a. preferably rounded bight section 156 and with upstanding arms or wings 154 and 155. Here also the bight section may be slightly fiattenedto have about a /3 width fiat if so desired. Each of the Wings has a preferably substantially rectangular slot 157 and 158 respectively therein to carry a not indicated generally at 161 in much the same manner asthe slots 57 and 58 and the wings 54 and 55 of the connector 213 carries the nut 61. Also, an aperture 163 is provided approximately centrally in the night section 156 of the U-shaped collar 151 to allow for-securing means to secure the connectors 121) in their respective channels or recesses or grooves in the body member 119 of the terminal block 110.

The nut 161 receives a clamping screw 164 and may be structurally the same as the nut 61 of connector 20. It is preferred, however, that the nut 161 used in the connectors 12!) for the terminal block 110, have the structure shown therefor in Figures 4, 5 and 6. That is, it is preferred that the nut 161 have a wing section 162 of about the same length as the collar 151 and a height sufiicient forv the same to extend materially above the .upper edges of the wings 154 and 155 of the collar 151.

The wing 162 is formed as an integral part of the nut '161 and the remainder-of the nut 161 fits through the slots 167 and 168 and is providedwith a threaded aperture for receiving a screw 164.

By providing the nuts 161 each with an upwardly bent wing section 162, rotation of a solder lug such as the one on cable 113 is avoided and short circuiting is prevented between the connectors 120 and therefore short circuiting is prevented between the cables 111, 112 and 113 as well as between the load leads 114, 115 and 116.

The several cables 111, 112and 113 are connected to the several conductors 114, 115 and 116 respectively either by clamping them under the screws 164 of the connectors 120 as shown at the two left hand connectors 12!) of the terminal block 110 of Figure 5 or all may be clamped under the head of the screw as shown at the right hand connector 120 of Figure 5.

There is therefore no necessity for the several parts of the connector 120 to be conductive, and the channel or collar 151 may be made of an insulating material or of an electrically conductive material or any intermediate material as desired and if the connectors 120 are made of an insulating material, then the body portion 119 of the terminal block 121) may be made of an electrically conducting material providing the-securing rivets 139. and-141 are made of an insulating material. It is preferred to use rivets or like securing expedients in this embodiment of the invention, in preference to screws, since the conductors are secured in place and electrical ly connected together immediately thereover and rivets provide a better clamping surface than the end of a screw although a screw would not seriously detract from the quality of this embodiment of the present invention.

In employing the terminal block 111) it is alsopossible to have a single power inlet lead connectedto several load leads .bywusing a conductive nut which extends through the several slots of the several connectors 120 and by having the remaining parts of the connectors 120 made of conductive material; the single nutwith several threaded holes thereincorrespondi ng to the several positions of the connectors120 which will. beshort ed together thereby if that is desired. This is facilitated by the reduced height of the separating arms124 which. also permit insertion and removal of the wing nut 162.

Inaddition, since rivets 139,140 and .141 are preferred in the embodiment shown at Figures 4 and 5 to secure the connectors 120 to the terminal block body 119 it is preferred to provide some convenient nut removal means. This is accomplished through the use of the wing nut 161 and the reduced height of extensions 124 and 125. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, such a system is not necessary since the connectors 20 are readily removable from the recesses in the block body 19 by removal or detachment of the screws 39, 40 and 41 respectively, allowing ready removal and replacement of the connectors 20. By allowing removal of the nut or 161, there is provided a more convenient means of inserting heavy cables such as 11, 12, 13, 111, 112 and 113 into the channel shaped or U-shaped collar members 51 and 151.

One of the particular advantages of the present invention is the versatility of connection procedures and techniques which are afforded to an electrician employing an embodiment of the present invention. The electrician may make connections between a pair of conductors both without lugs, both with lugs or one with a lug and one without a lug as between a plurality of conductors some of which have lugs affixed to the terminal ends thereof and others of which are Without lugs. Further, through employment of the present invention the electrician may wrap his conductors about the clamping screws or not as he so desires. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention employed without wrapping the conductors about the clamping screws and further illustrates connection of conductors both Without lugs and with lugs. In the illustration of Figures 4 and 5 similar connections are also shown but with lead conductors further wrapped about the clamping screws.

Particular attention is directed to the connection of conductor 116 and cable 113 in Figures 4 and 5. Here there is illustrated the preferred technique of running conductor 116 through the connector 120 then wrapping the same about the screw 164 to be clamped between the lug of cable 113 and either the arms 154 and 155 of the connector 120 or the head of the screw 164.

Numerous variations and modifications will be readily apparent from the foregoing description of the embodiments shown and described without departing from the true spirit, scope and novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

A terminal block for electrically interconnecting a plurality of conductors in power transmission relation comprising a body member of insulating material, a plurality of recesses in said body member, a plurality of upstanding insulating separator members between adjacent of said recesses, a plurality of conductor receiving channel elements secured one in each of certain of said recesses, each of said channel elements being substantially U- shaped and having side arms of height greater than the eight of said upstanding separators and a substantially rounded bight section, means extending through said bight section and through said recesses securing said channeled elements in said recesses, nut-receiving apertures in said side arms of said channel elements, a nut with an upwardly bent wing, said nut being received in an opposed pair of apertures with the wing of the nut extending substantially parallel to the arms of the channel elements, and a clamping screw threadedly engaging said nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,780 Hagist July 5, 1938 1,517,017 Roth Nov. 25, 1924 2,081,100 Blakeslee May 18, 1937 2,516,572 Heller July 25, 1950 2,597,070 Cook et al. May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 736,043 France Sept. 12, 1932 895,124 France Mar. 27, 1944 

